Colin Allen
Members
- Aug 27, 2022
- 1,862
- 2,248
Today was my second visit to Splatoon, near Wickford in Essex. This is a classic paintball site that also holds regular airsoft days.
The day started very late as there were far more players that the organisers expected, some of whom arrived at the last minute; I would have started the day without them and let them join the second game but I am not a site owner.
We started off with a simple domination game, which did not start until 10:50(!); teams had to turn each of three spinners spread across the site; to their colour to show their dominance of each area. I spent most of the game in the top field, which has a lot of structures made of containers, old cars and two helicopters at opposite ends of the field. We were coming from the slightly more difficult end of the field and, despite reaching the spinner on two occasions, did not manager to have it on our colour for long enough. We lost the game 2-1 as our colleagues in one of the other fields did rather better.
After a spell in the safe zone to mag up, we went out for a game of fallback; the attackers, who regened on a marshal, had to clear three zones in a particular order, being unable to attack the next zone until they had cleared the previous one; once they called clear, a time penalty of 30 seconds was imposed for each surviving defender in that zone. Defenders had one life in each zone. After clearing the three zones, they them had to enter the fourth zone and get a player to the grey helicopter.
We were the defenders and did a good job of slowing the enemy's advance; in the second zone, I found a great position on our right flank, where I was able to take out a number of attackers who were trying to outflank us, before eventually getting potted when they broke through the centre.
In the next zone, which contained the black helicopter, our defence held for some time until the enemy eventually punched through, forcing us back into the final zone to defend the grey helicopter. Again, I found a nice flanking position, just inside the woods, from where I was again able to take out a number of the enemy. I heard one of them telling his mates exactly where I was, so I changed position and shot them as they attempted to assault my previous position. Eventually, I was hit but, while starting to walk back to the safe zone, the enemy's attack timed out.
We then broke for lunch (nice veggie burgers!), during which I received a message from the lad telling me that the team of which he was 2i/c and navigator had completed Cambrian Patrol, being awarded silver; I am a very proud father. Clearly, all those summers on Dartmoor helping him learn to navigate had some impact.
After lunch, we took over the attacking role in the fallback game, clearing the first two zones rather rapidly after deciding that it was better to take a couple of 30 second time penalties rather than waste five minutes searching for a couple of Bush Wookies. The third stage was a lot slower as just getting into the field and past the black helicopter is quite tough. Eventually, through teamwork and some great use of pyro, we forced our way into the final zone, getting players to the grey helicopter with about 90 seconds remaining.
After another quick mag up, we played a game where our team, starting in the woods, had to get a VIP to either of the helicopters; if the VIP was hit, the game ended, so we decided to leave him at the rear with a couple of bodyguards while we got on with launching a diversionary attack on the black helicopter and, slightly later, the main attack on the grey helicopter. We had infinite lives respawning on a marshal while the defenders had three lives in the top field. I have no idea what the outcome was as I was involved in the diversionary attack on the black helicopter, which was great fun, especially storming one of the building complexes with pyro.
Despite the late start, it was a really good day, with well thought out games and effective marshalling from a professional but friendly team.
Weapons used:
Classic Army HK33
Classic Army HK53
Milbro Classic M1911 (CO2)
View attachment 116892
The day started very late as there were far more players that the organisers expected, some of whom arrived at the last minute; I would have started the day without them and let them join the second game but I am not a site owner.
We started off with a simple domination game, which did not start until 10:50(!); teams had to turn each of three spinners spread across the site; to their colour to show their dominance of each area. I spent most of the game in the top field, which has a lot of structures made of containers, old cars and two helicopters at opposite ends of the field. We were coming from the slightly more difficult end of the field and, despite reaching the spinner on two occasions, did not manager to have it on our colour for long enough. We lost the game 2-1 as our colleagues in one of the other fields did rather better.
After a spell in the safe zone to mag up, we went out for a game of fallback; the attackers, who regened on a marshal, had to clear three zones in a particular order, being unable to attack the next zone until they had cleared the previous one; once they called clear, a time penalty of 30 seconds was imposed for each surviving defender in that zone. Defenders had one life in each zone. After clearing the three zones, they them had to enter the fourth zone and get a player to the grey helicopter.
We were the defenders and did a good job of slowing the enemy's advance; in the second zone, I found a great position on our right flank, where I was able to take out a number of attackers who were trying to outflank us, before eventually getting potted when they broke through the centre.
In the next zone, which contained the black helicopter, our defence held for some time until the enemy eventually punched through, forcing us back into the final zone to defend the grey helicopter. Again, I found a nice flanking position, just inside the woods, from where I was again able to take out a number of the enemy. I heard one of them telling his mates exactly where I was, so I changed position and shot them as they attempted to assault my previous position. Eventually, I was hit but, while starting to walk back to the safe zone, the enemy's attack timed out.
We then broke for lunch (nice veggie burgers!), during which I received a message from the lad telling me that the team of which he was 2i/c and navigator had completed Cambrian Patrol, being awarded silver; I am a very proud father. Clearly, all those summers on Dartmoor helping him learn to navigate had some impact.
After lunch, we took over the attacking role in the fallback game, clearing the first two zones rather rapidly after deciding that it was better to take a couple of 30 second time penalties rather than waste five minutes searching for a couple of Bush Wookies. The third stage was a lot slower as just getting into the field and past the black helicopter is quite tough. Eventually, through teamwork and some great use of pyro, we forced our way into the final zone, getting players to the grey helicopter with about 90 seconds remaining.
After another quick mag up, we played a game where our team, starting in the woods, had to get a VIP to either of the helicopters; if the VIP was hit, the game ended, so we decided to leave him at the rear with a couple of bodyguards while we got on with launching a diversionary attack on the black helicopter and, slightly later, the main attack on the grey helicopter. We had infinite lives respawning on a marshal while the defenders had three lives in the top field. I have no idea what the outcome was as I was involved in the diversionary attack on the black helicopter, which was great fun, especially storming one of the building complexes with pyro.
Despite the late start, it was a really good day, with well thought out games and effective marshalling from a professional but friendly team.
Weapons used:
Classic Army HK33
Classic Army HK53
Milbro Classic M1911 (CO2)
View attachment 116892